Guiding mechanism for vehicles.



G. W..BULLEY.

GUIDING MECHANISM FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION man JAN.22, 1914.

1, 1 36,652. Pa nted Apr. 20, 1915.

2 8HEETS-8HEET I.

. zz y G. W. BULLEY.

GUIDING MECHANISM FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. 22.1914.

1,13 52, Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

2 SEEETS-BHBET Z.

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' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE W. BULLEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. GUIDING MECHANISM FOR VEHICLES.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE a citizen of the United States, Chicago, in the county of Cook of Illinois, .have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Guiding Mechanism for Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to guiding mechanism for vehicles, and has for its primary object the provision of improved mechanism of that kind whereby the guiding mechanism of the vehicle may be reduced with relation to the width of the vehicle and whereby the vehicle -may be turned in a sharp curve. Y

With the above and other objects in view this invention consists substantially in the combination, arrangement and construction of parts all as hereinafter described, shown W. BULLEY, residing at in the accompanying drawings which form -a part ofthis specification and illustrate the preferred embodiment of my invention, and more particularly set forth. in the subjoined claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of bodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of one end of the vehicle shown in Fig. 1 .with portions broken awayfor clear-' ness; Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line coking in the direction indicated by the arrows, portion of a steeringpost broken away; and

Fig. '4 is a section taken approximatelyon the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction indicated bythe arrows.

By the use of my invention a single wheel may be used ,in the forward end of the ve guiding wheel, and for, that hicle for the reason the width taken up in the roadgby by reducing still furtherj-the'area necessary to be covered in turning the vehicle.

In the drawings is illustrated a form' of my invention employing a single guiding wheel but, realizing that a plurality of guid ing wheels might be employed inconnection with my invention, I do not limit my- Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed January'22, 1914. Serial No. 813,788.

and State v a peripheral flange 14.

the runmng gear of a vehicle em- 1 tween the arms 17.

and having the upper are preferably flattened I fwith t a friction. The d with the guiding .mechanisni is greatlyafreduced 1; thereby allowing a turning of the vehi cle @151 within a short radius. I V

By meansof my-improved mechanism the guidingwheel may be turnedupon %its ver.- B tical diameter through many ward ends of the yokes. and

degrees there Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

frame of a vehicle, one of the rear wheels of which is shown at 11 in Fig. 1; Secured to the forward portion of the frame 10 in any suitable manner is a bearing ring 12. Be-

low the bearing ring 12 is a turn-table 13 of approximately the same diameter as the ring 12 and comprising an annulus having As shown in Fig. 4, the ring 12 and turn-table 13 are 0 positely provided with ball races within which are positioned bearing balls 15. An suitab e securing means, such as the c annel plates 16,- are employed to retain the parts 12 and 13 in proper oo-acting relation, the channel plates being preferably bolted at intervals to the ring 12 and having their channeled portion engaging the flange 14 of the turn-table 13. Secured in fixed relation to the turn-table 13 and. preferably formed integrally therewith at its rearward portion and extending downwardly are two yoke arms 17 provided with an le pieces 18 at their lower extremities w ich extend slightly toward each other at the bottom of the arms. The opposed faces of the arms 17 are preferably plane surfaces, as shown at 19 in Figs? and 4. and the angle pieces 18 each form a ledge or stop at the bottom of the plane surface 19. Two yokes 20 spaced a suitable distance from each other are hinged to the forward part of the turn-table 13 and extend rearwardly, terminating be- T eir rearward ends to cooperate with the plane surfaces 19 of the opposed faces of the arms 17 whereby the rearward ends of the yokes 20 may rise and fall in contact e. plane surfaces 19 without undue ownward passage .of the rearwardtends of. the 1 yokes 20 is limited relation to the arms 17 and turn-table 13 by'the projecting ends-of the angle pieces 8'.' Any. suitable 'resilient means,

22 "being positioned across of the yokes to Keceivethe wheel 23 is journaled in the yokes 20 adjacent the centers thereof. A curved rack 24 concentric with the-ring 12 and turn-table 13, but preferably of 'a somewhat smaller radius, is secured in fixed relation to the turn-table 13 by means of brackets 25 which elevate the rack 24 above the level of the guiding such as th espring's21, is inserted between therea'r-- V the lojwer sur- -face ofjtheturn-table '13, an approximately horizontal plate (the rearward ends thrust of the resilient means.

yokes 20. A steering rod 26, fixedm any suitable manner with relation to the frame .of the vehicle and provided at its upper end with a handle 27, carries at its lower end a pinion 28 meshing with the rack 24.

In the operation of my invention as the vehicle travels the rotation by the operator of the pinion 28 by means of the steering post 26 and handle 27 causes a turnm of the rack 24 and the turn-table 13 to w 10h it is secured, together with the wheel 23, the yokes 20 being carried by the turn-table and carrying the wheel with them as they turn. In this manner were it desired to turn to the right rather sharply the wheel 23 would assume a posltion approximating that illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

For the sake of clearness the adjusted position of other parts of the mechanism is not shown. It will be seen that the guiding mechanism is almost entirely contained within the width of the frame 10 thereby leaving no large projections to be accommodated in turning the vehicle. The number of degrees through which the guidin wheel 23 may be turned is limited only y the length of the curved rack 24 it appearing practical, however, to construct the rack as illustrated in encountered in the roadway by the wheel 23 during the travel of the vehicle convey a reduced shock to the load upon the vehicle by reason ofthe interposition of the springs 21 between the rear or free ends of the yokes 20 and the body of the turn-table .13, it being noted that while the turn-table is free to rotate with respect to the frame 10 and the ring 12 it is retained against separation therefrom by means of the channel plates 16. 'After passing an obstruction in the roadway should the u ward throw or rebound of the vehicle ha y be such as to raisethe turn-table 13 with-res ect to the wheel 23 and the yokes 20 the reevor rear ends of the yokes 20 will. be protected against disengagement, with respect to the .4 arms '17 by means of the angle pieces 18.

"In the accompanying drawings and in the foregoing description is set forth the preferred embodiment of my invention, but it is obvious that one skilled in the :art may make modifications thereof without depart ing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim: 1. Vehicle guiding mechanism'combining a bearing ring fixed with respect-to the body of the vehicle, an annular turn-table'having roller bearin engagement with the bearing ring, means or securing the ring and turntable from dis-engagement, said turn-table being rotatable with respect'to the bearing ring, two spaced yokes'hinged at adjacent ends to a point upon theturn-table, a vertical bearing formed at the opposite side of the turn-table and in which the opposite Figs. 2 and 3. Obstructions ends of the yokes are movably carried,

ring, two spaced yokes hinged at adjacent ends to a point upon the turn-table, a vertical bearing formed at the opposite 'side of the turn-table and in which the opposite ends of the yokes are movably carried, means joining the said opposite ends of the yokes, resilient means interposed between said join ing means and the body of the turn-table, and a paratus operable from the body of the vehicle for oscillating the turn-table in the bearing ring.

3. The combination with a vehicle, of an annular bearing fixed with respect to the body of the vehicle, a turn-table engaging the bearing and rotatable in an approximately. horlzontal plane with respect thereto, spaced wheel bearings hinged at adjacent ends to a point near the periphery of the turn-table, retaining arms for the opposite ends of the wheel bearings positioned substantially .at the opposite side of the turn-table from the hinge side, said opposite ends of the wheel bearings being vertically movable with-respect to the retaining arms and the turn-table, stops upon the retaining arms limiting the downward movement of said opposite ends of the yokes with respect to the retaining arms, resilient means interposed between said opposite ends of the wheel bearings and the body of the turntable, and a wheel journaled in the wheel bearings.

table ring and comprising spaced sidebars pivoted at one end to the turn-table, guide bearings on said turn-table diametrically opposite the said pivot and in which the free end of said bearing frame ,reciprocates,

vmeans for limiting the movement of the free extending diametrically across said turn! said tum-table with their rearward ends disand a compression spring between said plate posed under the rear side of said turn-table, and the turn-table. arms depending from the rear side of the In testimony whereof I have signed my turn-table and having parallel surfaces name to this specification, in the presence of 5 thereon engaging the rear end portions of two subscribing witnesses, on this 2nd day 15 the yokes limiting lateral movement of the of April, A. D. 1914.

latter, stops at the lower ends of said arms GEORGE W. BULLEY. adapted to engage the yokes and limit the Witnesses: downward movement of the rear ends there- CHARLES H, SEEM,

J of, a plate joining the rear ends of the yokes, H. G. ROCKWELL. 

